Why is it that you wake up at 4:00 am and can't sleep, then 10 minuets before the alarm goes off at 6:00 am, your exhausted and can't keep your eyes open? I have such a long day today, it's going to suck.
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Ahhhh...insomnia...welcome to the land of the "living dead"...nothing good on TV either when you are awake at crazy hours of the night. I have always been a light sleeper, but after menopause my insomnia has been really terrible...DRAT...old age be damned!!! I have researched treatments over the years and have included some helpful hints below (just the nurse in me-having to share).

Here are some basic facts on insomnia. It's actually divided into two kinds: primary and secondary.

Primary insomnia is having sleep problems that are not related to another health issue and generally lasts for at least one month or longer.

Co-morbid insomnia involves sleep problems that are associated with some other medical conditions. More than 8 out of 10 people who suffer with insomnia are believed to have this type. Examples of things that can cause co-morbid insomnia include:

* Illnesses such as arthritis, cancer, heartburn, heart and lung diseases
* Pain, anxiety and depression
* A substance you may be using such as alcohol, caffeine or tobacco
* Prescription or over-the-counter medications
* Another sleep disorder such as restless leg syndrome
* A poor sleep environment or a change in sleep routine

Insomnia is also divided into types based on how long it lasts. The three types are:

* Transient insomnia: lasting fewer than four weeks
* Short-term insomnia: inability to sleep well for a period of four weeks to six months
* Chronic insomnia: occurring every night or most nights for more than six months

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Some of these suggestions might not fit with your lifestyle, but they may be worth trying if you get fed up with insomnia.

1. Don’t stay in bed for longer than 20-30 minutes if you can’t fall asleep or go back to sleep after waking up. Why? Because it can cause your body to become accustomed to being in bed without sleep and can be subconsciously ingrained – bad news if you’re trying to avoid becoming an insomniac.

2. Avoid caffeine within 8-10 hours of bedtime. There have been studies that show if you ingest caffeine (coffee, tea, or otherwise) at noon, it can remain in your system until 8 or 10 at night. Hmmm gonna have to stop visiting Starbucks on the way home.

3. Avoid alcohol before bedtime. Alcohol can sometimes cause you to sleep lighter than usual thusly causing you to wake in the middle of the night – Well, how realistic is this.

4. Find light, relaxing activities to partake in if you can’t sleep. Try reading or listening to calm, soft music. It might help your overactive brain to pause and stop the flood of things do to, projects to finish, worries to worry about. I swear by Solitaire on my laptop...it makes my brain tired.

5. Try the cool-down method. Take a warm bath or shower about 30-45 minutes before you go to bed. This let’s your body relax and the cooling sensation is very ‘sleep-inducing’.

Thanks for the info VampiressRN,
I think, no, I know the problem...I'm a contractor and a cabinetmaker, my phone has not rang for weeks. I may run out of work by the end of November. I had work out to March or April with some projects lasting until next fall. All the projects have been; delayed, canceled or are under going "value engineering" I had to let a worker go last week and perhaps 2 more in December. It's time for some serious decisions.
I have been in business for 30 years, and I know this too shall pass but I'm getting to old for this crap but too young to retire.
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I toss a firecracker out the window into the back yard then get back in bed. When it goes off everyone else around wakes up, but they don't know what woke them up. So they get up and mill around for a while wondering whats up. The sound of all that gentle shuffling about lulls me back to sleep within a couple of minutes.

I don't really have a problem sleeping,
its the getting up to pee 2 to 5 times a night that is getting annoying.
I've tried cutting out drinking past 7pm, but its not working much.
I'm just hoping that I'm not getting prostate problems.
ugh...

I usally work so hard during the day that I fall asleep in the evening and end up waking around 1AM. I just get up and do stuff. Play with the dog, do yoga, work on projects, READ LOTS, do Jumba, watch TV. If I could go swimming in the middle of the night I would. cept I have to be up at 6AM for class. I usually fall asleep again at about 4Am and get up exactly 15 minutes too late to get to class on time DRAT! I think Ive had that restless leg thingy before I just used to call it wiggle leg . and a sure fie way not to get that is to actually use your legs during the day. Like walk a few miles, or run if thats your thing. Tire them out then they wont wanna wiggle at all!

I should be hatching plans for making some christmas loot, but Im still half way creatively blocked.

On 2008-11-06 07:23, bigtikidude wrote:I don't really have a problem sleeping,
its the getting up to pee 2 to 5 times a night that is getting annoying.
I've tried cutting out drinking past 7pm, but its not working much.
I'm just hoping that I'm not getting prostate problems.
ugh...